Owners-tenants solve issues: Rera

Campaign on rights and duties of both parties continues

By

Parag Deulgaonkar

PublishedTuesday, September 18, 2012

Picture for illustrative purpose only.

The Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera), the regulatory arm of Dubai Land Department, says it is seeking to improve understanding and reconciliation practices instead of referring disputes to judicial authorities.

Dubai Police on Monday forwarded the case against the owner of Shamyana Entertainment, the company that duped hundreds of landlords and tenants in a rent scam, to the public prosecution and have sought an international arrest warrant.

Last week, Rera told this website that people affected by the scam should approach Dubai Police and the Dubai Municipality’s rent committee.

Rera said, in a statement, that it continues its campaign to keep tenants and landlords informed about their rights and duties.

“Such efforts aim at enhancing contractual relationship between them and to avoid any disputes that might arise as a result of lack of awareness regarding their rights and obligations,” it said.

Rera said there are a number of steps that should be followed by tenants, which will ensure that their contractual rights and obligations are safeguarded.

The agency called on all parties to follow the tips and instructions as per the requirements of Law No. 26 of 2007 regulating relationship between landlords and tenants in Dubai.

Concerned parties need to check the real estate company's licence and the activity it is allowed to carry on. The information can be checked by visiting the official website of the Land Department.

It cited an example such as to check if the concerned company is an active one carrying on with its business, to check the company's registration numbers with Rera, to check the broker's ID card issued by Rera, the cheques must be written on behalf of property management company rather than on behalf of individuals and to obtain a copy of the bank guarantee.

In case of leasing directly from the individual owner, tenants are advised to verify the ownership of the property by the landlord or to check the availability of management contract in the case of property management companies.

Tenants also need to obtain a lease contract registered in Ejari system to get a certificate registering the lease contract to ensure their rights.

Rera said it has registered 60,000 properties on Ejari in the past three months.